“Today, I will be too calm for worry, too noble for anger and too strong for defeat. Today, I will believe anything is possible…I will walk through fear without hesitation. Today, I will stand for something.

Today, I will make a difference.”

The National September 11 Memorial is a tribute of remembrance and honor to the nearly 3,000 people killed in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center site, near Shanksville, Pa., and at the Pentagon, as well as the six people killed in the World Trade Center bombing in February 1993.

The Memorial’s twin reflecting pools are each nearly an acre in size and feature the largest man-made waterfalls in the North America. The pools sit within the footprints where the Twin Towers once stood. Architect Michael Arad and landscape architect Peter Walker created the Memorial design selected from a global design competition that included more than 5,200 entries from 63 nations.

The names of every person who died in the 2001 and 1993 attacks are inscribed into bronze panels edging the Memorial pools, a powerful reminder of the largest loss of life resulting from a foreign attack on American soil and the greatest single loss of rescue personnel in American history.

Today, I dedicate this article to Rahma Salie and Michael Theodoridis. These two young people were on the way to California to participate in my son and daughter-in-law’s wedding. They, and their unborn baby will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Where were you on 9/11/2001?

I know that the video of Clay singing the National Anthem is from July 4th… but Clay sings it so well. I am glad we can watch it!